This They Are Billions tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.
Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.
Builds Rankings
| Tier | Build | Rating | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Ranger | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Soldier | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Sniper | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Thanatos | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Titan | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
Detailed Builds Analysis
Ranger (A-Tier)
Ranger is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Wooden Wall. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Soldier (A-Tier)
Soldier is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Stone Wall. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Sniper (A-Tier)
Sniper is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Great Ballista. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Thanatos (A-Tier)
Thanatos is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Shocking Tower. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Titan (A-Tier)
Titan is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Executor. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wooden Wall | Sealing chokes in the opening 20 days | Cheap, fast and made of the resource you have most of on day one. |
| Stone Wall | Permanent perimeter once the Stone Workshop is running | The real defensive line. |
| Great Ballista | Early to mid game walls where noise still matters | Fires heavy bolts with very little noise and often skewers several infected in a line. |
| Shocking Tower | Choke points where the horde arrives densely packed | The first tower that genuinely deletes crowds, using electricity to vaporise packs of weak infected at once. |
| Executor | Late game walls holding the final wave | The Great Ballista upgraded into an automated gatling cannon, and the strongest static defence available. |
Check our weapons guide for in-depth stats and comparisons.
Equipment Analysis
Wooden Wall: Cheap, fast and made of the resource you have most of on day one. It buys time and nothing more, and it will not survive a serious wave past the first third of the run.
Stone Wall: The real defensive line. Far more health than wood and the minimum requirement before any wave that includes specials arrives at your gate.
Great Ballista: Fires heavy bolts with very little noise and often skewers several infected in a line. It is the quiet defensive tower, which matters because loud defences pull more attention.
Shocking Tower: The first tower that genuinely deletes crowds, using electricity to vaporise packs of weak infected at once. It needs energy, so it dies the instant its Tesla Tower does.
Executor: The Great Ballista upgraded into an automated gatling cannon, and the strongest static defence available. Expensive in iron and energy, and worth every unit of both.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in They Are Billions centers on One infected can end a run and Noise attracts the horde. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one. Our combat guide explains these interactions in depth.
What's strong right now:
- Ranger with Wooden Wall is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- Score factor sets difficulty and reward builds are gaining ground as players find new combinations.
- Sniper remains essential for learning hard content. See the boss guide.
What's underrated:
- Soldier is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- Great Ballista offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Titan builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Build | Best Gear | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | Ranger | Wooden Wall | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | Soldier | Stone Wall | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | Sniper | Great Ballista | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Thanatos | Shocking Tower | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Titan | Executor | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
More They Are Billions Guides
- They Are Billions They Are Billions Overview
- They Are Billions Best Builds
- They Are Billions Walkthrough
- They Are Billions Beginner's Guide
- They Are Billions Tips & Tricks
- They Are Billions Weapons Guide
- They Are Billions Combat Guide
- They Are Billions Boss Guide
- They Are Billions Maps & Locations
- They Are Billions Crafting Guide
- They Are Billions Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy They Are Billions, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Tier List: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Tier List: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Tier List: strategy game with similar mechanics
